Exclusive: Doc Society and BFI have selected six emerging producers for the second edition of the Rise Producer program.
The six producers are: Andy Wilkinson (Northern Ireland). Ariji Al Soltan (Midland); Dermot O’Dempsey (Northeast); Ilinca calugareanu (Scottish); Toby Cameron (Wales); Yemi Adegbulu (London). Everything is working towards the first documentary function.
The six-month programme consists of tailored group sessions and individual consultations from the BFI Doc Society and industry leaders, as well as intensive market introductions at Sheffield Docfest. The program will create future planning consultations to better equip selected producers.
Luke Moody, Head of the BFI Doc Society Fund, said: “The Rise Producer program aims to recognize individual needs for dialogue with peers in order to ensure a more collaborative and sustainable experience for participants.”
Rise 2025 Producer BIOS
BIOS provided by Doc Society
Andy Wilkinson (Northern Ireland)
Andy Wilkinson is a filmmaker based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Over the past few years, Andy has actually worked on television with a variety of independent production companies, primarily on the BBC programmes. Currently, Andy is producing a debut feature documentary for Rabie Mustapha June 1982: Massacreprovides development funding from AFAC and is selected by Ignite-Docs. He also produces Ross McLean short films. Organistfunded by Northern Ireland’s Screen and works in Little Easy Film as a development producer.
Ariji al-Sheit (Midland)
Arij al-Soltan is a British Iraqi producer whose work aims to provide alternative narratives and elicit a sense of self-content. She is drawn to her bold and emerging talent, and works with filmmakers who bring innovative aesthetics and subtle stories to the screen. Her recent short films, Under the mother’s feetproduced in collaboration with BFI Network, Mont Fleuri Productions and Writer-Director Elias Suhail, winning multiple international awards and continuing to resonate with audiences around the world. Her current documentary project, The Sixth Story With Director Ahmed ABD, he recently joined its renowned industrial program, Quamra, during development with the support of the Doha Film Institute.
Dermot Odempsy (Northeast)
Dermot O’Dempsey is an Irish creative producer based in Newcastle O’Dopsey. He is currently the development producer for Shudder Films/Mother Tongues, and his recent credits include Irish-language feature films. patellawon the Audience Award at Sundance in 2024, and later won the BAFTA for BEST Debut Feature. Future productions include: Learn to breathe under watera heartfelt comedy drama directed by Rebekah Fortune, starring Rory Kinnear & Maria Bakalova, and Something familiarhis revelationary documentary debut from Rachel Close, supported by the BFI Doc Society.
Ilinca calugareanu (Scotland)
Ilinca Calugareanu is a British-based Romanian filmmaker who works through creative documentaries and hybrid storytelling. She is the founder of Seaweed Pictures, an Edinburgh-based production company dedicated to bold, film documentaries by female and gender-enhancing filmmakers. Ilinca’s films have been screened globally, winning titles like Netflix, HBO, Arte, Hulu, The New York Times and The Guardian. She is a Berlin talent alumni, Sundance Institute, National Geographic Fellow and recipient of the 2023 Chicken & Egg Awards. Ilinca is currently developing his own work while creating new projects by emerging directors.
Toby Cameron (Wales)
Toby Cameron is a senior producer and founder of On Par, a Cardiff-based micro-indie, whose work spans multiple platforms, including broadcast, film, digital and advertising. Focusing on sustainability and positive storytelling, prioritizing the happiness of contributors and crew. They have won multiple awards for their works, including the BAFTA CYMRU and the DRUM ROSES Awards. Toby was part of BBC Wales’ first new directorial scheme in 2019, during which he directed and produced a four-part series that won the best breakthrough award at the RTS Cymru Awards in 2020.
Bait Addaggable (London)
Yemi is a British Nigerian producer with experience in both feature and short films. She will collaborate with production company Sleepwalker Studios. Yemi recently worked as an associate producer for feature films DreamerBBC Film and Quiddity Films Productions. She joined the film through the BBC Film Associate Producer Program. Here are Yemi’s recent credits as a producer: Memory boom Phoenix Exeter, National Lottery Heritage, commissioned by Radcliff Trust. World premiere at the competition at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2024. Goodbye train The winners of the Wiggin Filmmaker Award, commissioned by Roundhouse, are programmed at the UK Urban Film Festival 2024. Ink Life It was commissioned via Fresh Cut by ITV, premiered on BAFTA, broadcast nationwide, and won the new Shoots Filmmakers Award 2023.
(TagStoTRASSLATE)BFI (T)Documentary (T)UK/Ireland
